The purpose of groups

Hi, I was just wondering the purpose of groups? I have joined a few and no one ever talks on them. I figured it would be a great place to meet other diabetics that have similar interests and converse with them, but no one ever says anything. So why even join one or have one? I wish the groups worked out better, because it would be nice to converse with people with similar interests.

You know I was wondering the same thing.

Good Question - the same thing has happened to me. In fact, I rarely ever check anymore.

Hi Cathy! You are right that most of the discussions and activity happen in the main forum. It really depends on the members of the groups, how often they check back and start discussions, etc. I have my email settings so that I “follow” my groups. That means that any time a new discussion is started in one of my groups, I receive an email. That helps, but not everyone likes getting those emails!

Do have other ideas for how to make the groups more active? We could brainstorm some ideas here. The first thing that comes to mind is start a discussion :slight_smile: Then people will see that the group is active and maybe engage more. Any other ideas?

I have this thought as well. I joined the NE US States group because I am moving there in June. I had planned to ask in the group if anyone was up for doing a walk for the cure or some thing like that to raise money for diabetes research. I thought that would be a nice thing we could all come together and do- or just have a weekly “I’m going to Fairmount park and walking around for exercise. anyone who wants can come and join me.” However, I admit I haven’t done this because I haven’t moved and I sort of figured that lack of activity on the groups meant people aren’t interested. Other thoughts I had: Diabetic book clubs in various areas, also listings of good Endos, good restaurants in the area that have good food suitable for us, or even just meet and bit#$ groups for moral support in the area.

Thoughts? am I overstepping? No one wants to be the one to invite other people to something and not have them show up. :slight_smile:

Some regions have already had get togethers. I know that one happened in Boston, I think another in Kentucky. I think that it is a great idea.

If you organize a get together, make is an event, by clicking on the Events link above then it will stay on the main page as the date approaches :slight_smile:

Yeah we totally need to do some brain storming and see what we can come up with. I have started a few discussions and get nothing. Maybe we should all go through our groups and start talking about something and see what happens.

I have noticed this same thing. I have even tried to get people talking in certain ones. I have found that unless someone has something important to ask they usually don’t talk to much. There are a couple that I belong to that have frequent posts - “Lean on Me” and Sharing Scriptures. But most of the talking happens in the main forums .

I think it’s partly the fault of how Ning notifies us of group activity.

You have to actively click “follow” in each group in order to hear via email about new activity in them.

Not only that, but because you have to be a member to see activity, new discussions in the groups don’t appear in the “latest activity feed” on the main tudiabetes homepage to stimulate activity in them. That’s how many of our members find discussions in which they want to participate.

Or am I wrong?

This is an excellent point.

A big part of making the regional groups more active (and productive) is directly related to the leadership and participation within each group.

For instance, in the US-Midatlantic group:

There is regular activity. And so there is in the New England group:

These two were a recent spinoff of the former NE US Group (which may explain Lane, why you don’t see much activity in that one).

Basically, we are seeking for volunteers to help lead regional groups, so that they become more than just online groups: so that we can turn them into the online resources for regional and local groups that meet regularly.

In your case, Cathy: Cara in TN has been pretty active in rallying Tennesseeans to meet up. She was the one that started the TN Diabetics group:

As for common interest groups, one that I am a member of that I keep on posting to and getting replies to is the Diabetic Geeks group. We see comparable level of activity with the Welcome Group…

Mel:
Indeed, the only way to be current on activity within the group is to click on the “Follow” link, as you describe.

I would love to hear any more ideas on how to get Groups to being a more active area of the community.

I had no idea you could click the “follow” on the group page - thanks so much for telling us how to be notified of group activity.

For those who prefer my lovely face… http://tudiabetes.com/forum/topics/how-to-use-groups